Backing Obama: From Seattle Times to The Stranger

The Seattle Times, somewhat hesitantly, has endorsed President Obama for a second term.

The newspaper’s swing (mostly) to Democratic presidential candidates dates to its backing of Michael Dukakis in 1988, the election that began Washington’s string of voting for a Democrat in six consecutive presidential elections.

(Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP/GettyImages)

“Obama’s presidency has been disappointing, but he still has promise: Romney would be too much of a gamble,” the Times argued in its endorsement. Fairview Fannie said that Obama still has the potential to be a “good president.”

Certain of the Times’ plutocrat causes, e.g. its longtime opposition to the inheritance tax, popped up in the Obama endorsement editorial.

“Obama’s proposal to raise taxes on the $250,000 bracket, and to set the death-tax rate at 45 percent, shows that he also is out of touch,” said the Times’ editorial.

The Times praised Obama on some fronts, saying that he “wisely limited” U.S. involvement in Libya’s civil war and overthrown of the Qaddafi regime, despite “hectoring” from Sen. John McCain. He added that Obama has not allowed Israel’s Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to “talk him into an attack” against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The right-to-left spectrum of support for Obama now ranges from The Seattle Times to The Stranger.

The latest polls of Washington voters show the 44th President with a 12-16 point lead in the Evergreen State. It means that Republicans’ candidate for Governor, Rob McKenna — given an early, enthusiastic endorsement by the Times — must persuade thousands of Obama voters to cross over.